Belgian side Standard Liege have also been heavily touted with a move for the attacking midfielder, but with their recent deal to sign Jeff Louis from AS Nancy, it is unknown just how interested they are now.

The Burkina Faso international signed for Lorient back in 2012 for a whopping €5 million deal from Auxerre, but it hasn’t quite gone to play. Injuries in both the league and the African Cup of Nations have seen his career stall.

Both parties are considering a move to help kick start his career once again.

Here are five facts of Charlton Athletic target Alain Traore

- Back in 2005, Traore had a trial with Manchester United. He played one match in front of Sir Alex Ferguson but a problem with his work permit ended any hopes of a move.

His mother rejected the move as they would have had to have sent him on loan to Belgium for six months. He then joined Auxerre, where he would excel after 12 months in France.

-In his last season with Auxerre he started the season with bang. He scored five goals in the opening four games of the season, including a double against Ajaccio. It was that early run of form that brought him to the nation’s attention.

-Alain’s younger brother is Bertrand Traoré, the attacking midfield is under contract at Chelsea, but will continue to play on loan at Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem this season.

-Lorient are more famed for selling players for high transfer fees, but the €5 million move for Alain Traore broke the clubs transfer record and still stands today.

-During his career in France, Alain Traore played 105 games, made 85 starts and scored 25 goals. For someone who played mostly as an attacking midfield the record is impressive, and without a string of injuries it could have been much better.

Andrew Gibney

Andrew Gibney started following France's Ligue 1 about 10 years ago and it is an obession that has stayed with him ever since.His writing career started as a hobby, but now he calls Lille, France his home and spends his weekend either watching Lille OSC or teams down in the fifth division of the French league pyramid, forever searching for the next Eden Hazard.A typical Glasweigan, he once walked 106 miles in seven days, from Sheffield to Lille, just to avoid paying for the Eurostar. Managing to talk his way into a few freebies from other clubs along the way.